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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
Clem
Do these people really think anyone with a car of value or one that could be used for parts in a restoration, especially at the prices on E-Bay, is going to turn it in to be crushed? At the price of steel a few months ago, if they didn't turn in their junkers then they never will. Do the lawmakers not understand that people cannot afford the payments? You got to wonder what some people are smoking, both lawmakers and their rivals.
Maybe they should make it illegal to have more than two cars or trucks or travel trailers up on blocks in your yard. Have any idea how much rust is seeping into the ground in some areas?
Terry -
Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
Gives the people in Detroit an excuse to pick up all the cars sitting on the streets up on milk cartons. Title, we don't need no stinking title, we just here for the handout and the free donuts.Comment
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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
Many local "non-attainment" areas have been offering vouchers for turning in emissions non-compliant cars for years and the programs haven't made a dent in air quality, but rather just make a few legislators feel good that they are "doing something". Our local program offers $3,000 voucher toward a new or late model used car. I searched the internet for some statistics and found that in the first six months of 2008, about 11,000 vouchers were issued and 7,000 vouchers were redeemed under the local program (compared to the millions of older vehicles on the local roads).
I believe there is some real danger to the hobby tho. Not to worry about old Corvettes since cars that are already perceived as having more value than the subsidy offered will certainly not be forfeit. However, future collectibles, those cars that are say 15 to 25 years old and are in "marginal" condition may be less valuable than the subsidy and could be turned in. Say you had a shabby 1985 Camaro with 250K miles worth $1,200 but you could turn it in for $3,000 toward a 2005 Ford Taurus with 120K miles worth $6000 and make a payment of only $35/week on the balance. Add to that your wife just had a baby and the car seat won't fit in the Camaro. That poor old Camaro is toast. Sure it was probably toasted anyway in our local sunshine and ozone, but it was a rust-free Texas body. Oh well. Too bad.
I use the Camaro as an example because its something Corvette folks are familiar with but I also have an affinity for Japanese sports cars and have restored four Toyota Supras. Unlike Corvette and Camaro, no one will ever make reproduction parts for Supras because a) they didn't produce enough of them to begin with and b) they aren't loved like the Corvette and hence fewer survived and even fewer will be candidate for restoration. Toyota warehouses ran out of critical replacement parts years ago and the only way to restore one today is via used parts or the fitting of generic aftermarket parts. But when an original parts car is worth significantly less than the voucher, there's a real danger. I suppose to the extent that common chevrolets shared some parts with Corvette, it could reduce the availability of original parts for our use. Would be a shame if a common 4-door 1972 sedan went to the crusher with a set of T-3 low-beams still installed.
PhilComment
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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
Get used to it. Creeping Socialism is on the way. This is just the first of many soft punches. Next to come will be mandates, and if you don't like it - too bad. Your more intelligent Brothers and Sisters voted for it for the good of mankind (sic).
Stu FoxComment
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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
I sent this out to a bunch of my gear head friends and believe it or not one guy agree with the program! When I said to him, if this program was in effect years ago he may not have the enjoyment of owning the corvettes he has today. He e-mailed me back and said.
If the tough choice is eating and having shelter..the fun of playing with cars is a luxury I could do without. Are we as spoiled as the next generation that gets complained about?I get all these e-mails about the good old days..and they are fun to reminisce about..but what are we going to do with the last 15 years or so we have? Complain or do something?
I am afraid that he has bought into the Al Gore, Barack Obama doom and groom and that we are the cause of global warming.Bill Lacy
1967 427/435 National Top Flight Bloomington Gold
1998 Indy PacecarComment
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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
the world is a changing and i don't like it.Comment
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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
I just sent Speaker Pelosi a lengthy message. In essence I pointed out that hundreds of thousands of jobs exist to support keeping older cars on the road. Where would the economy be with (further) declining revenues of Auto Zone, Pep Boys, NAPA, all of our restoration parts mfgs and suppliers, tire houses, even Wal-Mart and Sears? There is no way the destruction of a car can generate the dollars that the upkeep or restoration of an older car can generate. Hundreds, thousands would have to be crushed, melted down, etc. to generate what we spend on some of our cars and the jobs generated by them.
Hopefully more will write and express some facts. All too often lobby $$$$$ and the lack of facts guide government actions.Comment
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Re: may be of interest to you car collectors
not to hijack the thread but Pelosi wants to introduce a windfall tax on all retirement profits to close the gap for the immirgrants and poorer people creeping communisum for sure SteveComment
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